Lab assistant Review

I enjoyed my placement at UCL a lot! I learnt a wide range of things and was introduced to new pieces of equipment that I had never used nor seen before. I enjoyed learning new things and understanding the research that was taking place in the lab.

I felt valued as a student. All the people in the lab made sure to look after me and teach me different things. The PhD students at the lab were welcoming and gave me valuable advice for my future and career prospects. Those in the lab would regularly invite me to have lunch with them.

I received a lot of guidance. The PhD students showed me a lot of new methods and taught me how to use special equipment. For example, they taught me how to use robots and programme them to do a certain task. They were extremely patient, especially when I got things wrong or didn't understand.

The things that I learnt at this placement were hugely beneficial to me. When I returned to my studies I had superior knowledge to my peers about the real life realities of working in a lab. Both the good and the bad. I also was aware of the scientific discoveries and was able to apply this in my personal statement.

The placement was relatively structured. Once I arrived, a PhD student would bring me over to their work station and allow me to observe what they were doing. They would then allow me to do some of the activities under their supervision.

There was a lovely atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and had a good disposition. Many of the time, when those at the lab would take a break, they would recount funny stories and tell jokes. However, they still maintained a strong work ethic due to the nature of working in a lab

The lab did invest in my personal development as they sacrificed some of their scientific findings in order for me to help and experience how to conduct the experiments. I believe without this valuable opportunity, I would not have learnt as much as I did.

The placement was very beneficial in allowing me to understand the advantages and disadvantages of working in a lab in real life. I was able to understand that working in a lab requires a lot of patience and dedication. However, the results of your hard work are worth the trouble

I was given a relatively good insight into understanding how working in a lab is and the general ethos of those working in a lab. Though we were given an induction of the lab, I would have preferred a more in depth explanation of the research that was being carried out at the time.

The content of the day was extremely valuable. Prior to the placement I really wanted to have a career in research and had set my mind to this goal. However once I had completed the placement, I realised I was a little naive into how hard working in research would be and have since changed my career plans

I was not paid as the placement was a voluntary placement. However the experiences, advice and insight were extremely valuable and no amount of money could have provided that.

There was a fair amount of meeting with other employees. For exam we met with the other people that worked on the other side of the lab and was able to ask them about their research. I visited the Francis and Crick institute and met with many other scientists and lab technicians.

There weren't many networking events or events where I could socialise with others. However, when I did meet other scientists and lab technicians, they were all extremely helpful and gave me lots of advice for my future plans and aspirations.

I did not find out about any other activities. Whilst I was in the placement, I was not directed to other opportunities I could do once I left. However the experience that I gained from this placement paved the way for many other opportunities as I was able to write about it all.

I would definitely recommend this placement to a friend. It was incredibly helpful in allowing me to make an informed decision about my future and potential career prospects. I learnt invaluable lab skills that I can now apply once in my degree.